Keith King
Keith King: Founder and CEO, National Veteran Business Development Council (NVBDC)
Keith King is a 40 Year Veteran advocate with heavy legislative experience, a strong record of success in writing, lobbying for, and getting passage of laws to benefit ALL veterans. Adjudicated 1,000’s of veteran claims for benefits. Expert in Veteran laws and VA claims and the difference between them.
Keith’s volunteer efforts on behalf of his fellow Veterans has been fueled by his success in his personal and business life. Through the years, Keith has taken on a variety of leadership roles on the National, State, and Local levels. He is committed to helping today’s veterans as they transition out of the military and back into American society.
Keith King enlisted in the U.S Army in 1969 and was based in the Central Highlands of Vietnam in 1970. Keith was a 19-year-old M-60 machine gunner with the U.S. Army’s military police protecting supply convoys running ammunition along the dangerous routes to American troops fighting in South Vietnam’s war-torn Central Highlands.
Military History
Keith King enlisted in the U.S Army in 1969 and after completing the Military Police Advance training he was sent directly to Vietnam. He served with the 18th Brigade (218th and 630th MP companies) and was a specialist E-4 when honorably discharged. Keith was based in the Central Highlands of Vietnam mostly in Nha Trang and Cam Ranh Bay but in 1970, Keith King was a 19-year-old M-60 machine gunner with the U.S. Army’s military police protecting supply convoys running ammunition along the dangerous routes to American troops fighting in South Vietnam’s war-torn Central Highlands. His awards include The Vietnam Campaign ribbon with a device (M-60 machine gun), Vietnam Service Medal (with 2 bronze campaign stars), Good Conduct Medal, and National Defense Medal.
Volunteer History
March 15, 2022 – NVBDC’s Keith King is named one of the 30 Best Leaders to Watch in 2022 by The Silicon Review magazine.
Jan. 27, 2022 – NVBDC receives DotCom Magazine2022 Impact Company of the Year Award
DotCom Magazine has honored NVBDC as making a positive difference in an incredibly unique year. This award celebrates the most important segment of the economy – America’s privately-owned companies whose Founders, CEOs, and Amazing Team Members are making an important impact in the economy. DotCom Magazine presents featured stories about interesting CEOs and thought leaders. They feature an incredible group of visionaries that have built amazing companies. They ask questions about entrepreneurship, leadership, and what makes them tick!
December 3, 2019 – Keith King NVBDC Founder & CEO Named 2019 “Top 30 Champion of Diversity” by Diversity Plus Magazine
The Champions were recognized for their commitments to supplier diversity and who participated in a wide variety of activities, programs, and strategies. Keith King joins a prestigious group of “high energy, dynamic group of people who seem to have unlimited energy as they work inside and outside their organizations” who were recognized as Champions of Diversity by Diversity Plus Magazine.
May 17, 2019 – Inducted into the inaugural class ofthe Michigan Military and Veterans Hall of Honor
The six veteran inductees are Joe Louis, John Dingell, Keith King, Vincent Patton, Mike Ilitch, and Tyronne Chapman.
Why “Hall of Honor” and not “Hall of Fame”
Hall of Fame may be appropriate for professional sports, where athletes do gain athletic fame and glory, but it is antithetical to military service and the traditional military/civic virtues that we should properly seek to recognize. Honor, on the other hand, is a core military virtue—think honorable discharge, Medal of Honor, etc. Honor, unlike fame, implies a concern for and attention paid to true worth, genuine virtue, and real achievement—valorous and meritorious. As a Hall of Honor (as opposed to a Hall of Fame) we would seek to recognize and honor military veterans, with due attention to their true military and civic virtue and achievement.
July 24, 2015 – Awarded the National Commendation Medal
The Vietnam Veterans of America Commendation Medal is the Corporations highest award, and it is awarded for outstanding, exemplary service to veterans, and the community. The purpose of the award is to recognize those members, Associate or Individual, who have demonstrated a sincere commitment to the ideals, mission, and goals of the Corporation through their work.
November 8th, 2014 – Named “Silent Hero” by The Metropolitan Detroit Veterans Coalition
In conjunction with the United States of America official 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War Commemoration: Recognizing Vietnam Veterans in Michigan who served honorably and for your service during the Vietnam War and to our Country, State and Community following your Military service.
Award extract: “We honor your service, your courage, and most of all your sacrifices. Your dedication to the United States of America, its ideals and its military are commendable”.
August 2013 – Present – Founder and CEO, National Veteran Business Development Council (NVBDC)
After years of discussions on why Corporate America had not included Service-Disabled Veteran and Veteran Owned Businesses in their Supplier Diversity purchasing program, it became clear the only way to inclusion was through a viable certification program. With the support of the Minority and Woman certification organizations and key Corporations, we conducted our “beta test” on April 2, 2014, and received the tacit approval of our certification process. We have developed the only third-party Veteran Business Certification program in America and launched the program nationally in 2014. In August 2017 the 27 corporations that comprise the Billion Dollar Roundtable (each member spends $1 Billion or more in their supplier diversity program) named the NVBDC as the only acceptable third-party certification program for veteran businesses. The impact of NVBDC certification has opened an $80 Billion market for certified service-disabled and veteran-owned businesses.
July 2011- August 2013 – President, Michigan Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Roundtable
Became President in July 2011 and developed the by-laws, committee structure, and appointed Committee Chairs. Developed the levels of membership and the membership application and began recruitment efforts. Organized material to present to the Governor’s staff on the history of the 2005 SDVOB law, Veteran information and discussed the reasons for the failure by the State to reach the goals in the August 2011 meeting. Fellow officers and members of the Board of Directors launch a grassroots campaign to find SDVOBs in Michigan. Roundtable was included in the 2005 SDVOB law as an advisory group to the Governor and Legislature.
March 2012 – Keith was named the State of Michigan, Mid-West Regional and National Veteran Small Business Champion by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the first Veteran from Michigan to ever win the National Champion award.
As quoted from the SBA award letter: “Specifically, you have combined your professional and entrepreneurial career with your passion to assist veterans, especially veteran entrepreneurs, not only in the Detroit area but across our great state and the nation. Through your position as National Public Affairs Chairman of the Vietnam Veterans of America and as a member of the Economic Opportunity Committee, you helped promote the idea of Veteran-owned businesses throughout the country. Your involvement with Vet Force and their interaction with all of the Veteran Service Organizations helped to create the first Veteran Business Owners Conference”.
September 2008-Present – Secretary, Veterans Memorial Park of Detroit (Veterans Park Foundation, Inc.)
Elected to the Board of Directors for the Foundation, and then elected Secretary. The purpose of the Veterans Park Foundation is to build a Park to honor all Detroit Veterans. Detroit is the largest American city without a permanent park or Memorial honoring its Veterans. We are in negotiations with the various departments of the City of Detroit to secure the land and build an appropriate memorial to our Veterans.
October 2006-Present – National President, Veterans Support Foundation (VSF) and the The United States Armed Forces Association (USAFA)
Became President in January 2007, implemented various fund-raising programs, and have launched an aggressive fund-raising agenda. Recruited new members to the Board of Directors of the VVAF to complete the new programs and to assist in defining the future direction of the VVAF. Created the Veterans Support Foundation to replace the VVAF to ensure the future of the foundation and the work we do on behalf of Veterans. Created the USAFA to serve other Veteran Programs not supported by the VSF and launched fundraising efforts generating over $5 Million to date.
July 2005-October 2011 – National Public Affairs Chairman, Vietnam Veterans of America
Oversaw the change of the National VVA website into an interactive e-commerce site. Hired the new National Magazine Sales Representatives to increase revenue for our national Membership Newsletter the “Veteran” and implemented the change from newspaper into magazine stock. Created the 25th Anniversary of the Vietnam Memorial logo for the VVA and launched an integrated Public Service campaign using the web, TV, and radio PSAs.
May 1993-April 2003 – Appointed Trustee of Michigan Veteran’s Trust Fund by Governor John Engler
Policymaking Board which oversees a $50 million trust with full and part-time employees and hundreds of volunteer staff covering all 83 Michigan counties. Elected Chairman of the Board of Trustees February 1996-1997, re-elected 1997-1998, and again 2001-2002. Involved in an effort to have a Constitutional amendment protecting the MVTF from legislative raids placed on November 1996 ballot (Proposal C) and helped organize a statewide campaign in support (Passed with 75%). Developed position and language for the Board’s request for Attorney General’s ruling, clarifying the Board’s new Constitutional authority and protection. The ruling was favorable to the Board and Veterans of Michigan.
July 1992-Nov 2001 – Appointed State Commissioner of Michigan Vietnam Monument Commission:
Oversee all facets of the design, construction, and fundraising efforts to build Michigan’s Vietnam Monument. Chairman of Public Relations Committee secured pro-bono agency and oversaw the creation of two award-winning campaigns on behalf of the commission. Over $700,000 worth of Television, Cable, Radio, Newspaper, and Magazine ads were placed pro-bono. Credited with raising $2.8 of the $3.2 million needed to complete the monument.
Mar 1982-June 1986 – Founding member, State of Michigan Council Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA)
Elected three consecutive terms as State Chairman/President. First Vietnam Veterans of America State Council President to be seated on State Commander’s Group. Assisted in creating the language and passage of Michigan House Concurrent Resolution #819, the first State to officially endorse the awarding of a Federal Charter to the VVA, passed in 1985. Received funding from the State of Michigan for VVA State Service Officers Program, the first state-funded service officer program of the VVA in the country hired the first State Service Director.
Nov 1980- Present – Life Member, VVA Chapter #9, Detroit
One of the original fifty members and elected five consecutive terms to the Board of Directors. Served four years as Publisher and Editor of “The Aftermath” an award-winning monthly chapter newspaper. Currently serves as Chapter delegate to VVA State and National Conventions. Elected Chapter Secretary in 2004 and reelected in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2014.
Professional Experience
Keith King is the President and CEO of Keith King & Associates and has 40 years of experience in advertising and public relations. He worked for the (then) parent Corporations of ABC, CBS, and Sinclair Broadcasting television stations. He is the primary project manager for all businesses. As a GSA contract holder and a (formally) verified Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) by the VA, he has over 14yearsof experience in Federal contracting. The GSA has reviewed all completed projects awarded to Keith King & Associates and issued their Administrative Report Card July 17, 2012, that rated Keith King & Associates as “EXCEPTIONAL” for their performance under both GSA contracts. Keith King & Associates GSA contracts have been extended until August 2019.
Keith has completed the US Army accessions command (USAAC) institutional review board (IRB) protocol for human research behavioral and social sciences and is a certified principal investigator. He has received notice that his second IRB-sanctioned study protocols have been approved by the USAAC and the VA Ann Arbor IRB. Keith has earned a VA Privacy and information security certificate and has a Veterans Affair: NACI/OPM security clearance.
Keith studied Communications at the University of Pittsburgh and over the last 20+ years he attended a multitude of industry sales and management training programs conducted by the RAB, TVB, INTV, NAB, DMA, and the Sterling Institute. He graduated from Macomb County Comm. College: Warren, MI with an Associates Degree in Business Management with Honors.